Prosecutors’ code launched

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) yesterday launched its code for prosecutors, which is intended to serve as a guide on determining whether criminal charges should be instituted. The set of codified principles embodies the initiative of implementing uniformity in the laying of charges in order to ensure fairness to an accused person while at the same time balancing the public’s interest. Expressing her pleasure with the launch of the code, DPP Shalimar Ali-Hack, during the simple launch at the Savannah Suite of the Pegasus Hotel, said that she has always had the desire to have such a code implemented in Guyana. Ali-Hack, who noted that prosecutions are an integral part of the criminal justice system, said that the code holds to the hallmarks of integrity and transparency, while noting that it seeks to explain why and how prosecutors do what they do in the execution of their duties.

Thursday, November 29th

to be. She explained to Persaud that the fact the child was underage, amounted to a commission of the offence. Such a complainant is “off limits,” the judge warned.

Friday, November 30th ‘The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I could give work to is PNC’

Public Health Minister and People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR) Chairperson Volda Lawrence is facing scrutiny over a suggestion that party officials elected to public offices should show preference to fellow party members in hiring and the award of contracts. During a presentation at the Region Four District Conference, held at Congress Place on November 25th, a recording of which has been made public, Lawrence can be heard telling attendees that they should not be afraid to give jobs or contracts to party comrades, while indicating that she does the same. “Well I got news for you: The only friends I got is PNC, so the only people I could give work to is PNC. And, right now, I looking for a doctor who can talk Spanish or Portuguese and ah want one that is PNC,” she is heard saying. Her comments have prompted opposition leader and PPP General Secretary Bharrat Jagdeo to condemn her statements as an admission of discriminatory labour practices. “This is illegal. Volda Lawrence could be charged for this because our labour law says that you cannot discriminate against people on the basis of their gender, sexual orientation, race, religion, whatever else.

Gov’t sued over Berbice bridge takeover, freeze on tolls

The Berbice Bridge Company Incorporated (BBCI) has mounted a legal challenge to government’s takeover of the operations of the bridge and the authority of the Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson to prevent it from instituting increases. In its application to the High Court, which lists Patterson and the Attorney General as first and second named defendants, respectively, the BBCI has given notice that it is seeking orders from the court quashing the proclamation issued for the takeover of the bridge. As a matter of fact, the company says that both Patterson and his predecessor under the previous PPP/C administration, Robeson Benn, had been written to concerning its plans for toll increases but neither ever responded. The BBCI is contending that Patterson is not required by law to approve toll increases and has no lawful authority to prevent it from moving ahead. About two months ago, the bridge company announced huge toll increases for users of the bridge, which it was hoping to implement with effect from November 12th, 2018. The announcement had been met with opposition from Patterson, who noted that government was in no way going allow “unconscionable increases.”

Mangal says advised against Crab Island oil facility over lack of transparency

Dr Jan Mangal, former petroleum advisor to President David Granger, has said he advised government against investing in the development of the now shelved onshore oil and gas supply facility at Crab Island, in Region Six, as the proposal did not go through the due diligence needed for the investment, which would have required billions of taxpayers’ dollars. “There were many other issues on which I believe I advised the President so as to protect the interests of the poor people of Guyana (e.g. inappropriateness of using taxpayers’ dollars to develop Crab Island, need for a comprehensive and independent study of the natural gas opportunity considering impacts of sealevel rise and long-term national development, etc.,),” Mangal wrote in a letter to the Stabroek News, which was published on Thursday. “…I advised against the use of about USD 500 Million of Guyanese taxpayers’ money on the Crab Island project in 2017 because there was no evidence that an independent, transparent and auditable decision-making process was used for selecting this particular project. There was no stakeholder engagement in the decision-making process. The industry standard feasibility studies were not performed to consider all locations along Guyana’s coast and there was no national development plan nor any tie in to such a plan. There was no consideration of the impacts of sea-level rise.